The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-10-26
Do Your Duty.


! As each citizen is given the ballot, 1t is
not only his privilege, but his duty to
use it. IL is an element Of power and
safety when il is properly used, and one
II is useless to arm an individual for his
protection, if he does not defend himself
when the emergency arrives. No citizen
has the moral right to disfranchise him
self for it is species of suicide and a
neglect that must bring danger This Is
government of popular opinion, where
the verdict should be made up by a full
jury.-As our laws are for all, and to
protect all, 50 IL is the duty of each and
all In select those who make and execntc
them. Each voter should have an opin-
ion, and if he does his. duty he viii ex-
press that opinion at the polls.
We ask you to give form and express
sion TO that opinion. Confidence in the
future of our nation, and faith in the fit
ness of the people TO govern, do not im-
ply that all can or will have clear per
-eeption of right or wrong, but it will tend
to an enlightened public opinion. Some
voters are blindly Democrats, and others
are as decidedly Republicans from in
stinct or prejudice, but the masses lie
between these extremes, and Democrat
and Republican alike seek to that which
is best for the country.-Those who will
study the plans, and plots, and policy of
the present national administration
should have no difficulty in deciding
which party TO support.
such people cannot fail to advocate the
placing of honest. reputable, and loyal
persons in power, and an examination
will convince them that men who are
bist cred with disloyaIty, bleared with
fraud, and who are devoid of conscience
or character, have been elevated to high
places of trust and honor. No man can
avoid feeling that the government is not
safe in the hands of a party which seeks /
spoils and not principles and which sub
sidlzes everything to sustain itself in
power. The Democratic party has been
on trial and it has demonstrated its want
of principle, its greed for Office, and how
nnscrupulously many of its officials serve
party and self, dodging every vital ques-
iiun and avoiding every effort for the
public welfare that may lose them
votes.
Our people fully comprehend that it is
the duty of our government to promote
honest trade and productive industry in
stead of dangerous speculation. But they I
have seen, under the present administra-
ton the widest riot of speculation de-
liberately fostered by initiation of the cur I
reney in order to help Democratic candi-
dates in elections. They have seen in
dustries hampered and destroyed by wild
speculation, and also by partisan agita-
ton of Free Trade Business interests
and moral convictions pull in the same
direction-a party that promotes gamb- (
ling instead of legitimate business, de- I
StiDNS az piiNt pubiiN pipSiciilN anu pun
lie morals They realize that it is a par
amount duty Of government to protect (
and build up industries, so that better (
conditions and larger rewards may be /
secured for the millions who earn their /
daily bread by their daily labor If this
had to be done at a heavy sacrifice it
would still be sacred duty to uplift the
who would fall without the sus-
tanning arm of government instituted for
the protection of all in general and the
weak in particular. But the Republican
policy that defends home labor no long
er costs a sacrifice, for the time has ar
rived when yearly returns more than
repay all the sacrifices which the pro-
lection of labor inyolves.-Thus interest
and duty unite in requiring mainte-
nance of Republican policy which has
given us progress and prosperity. And
it will continue if you do your duty at
the polls.